State money available to fortify homes against storms

Monday

Nov 23, 2009 at 11:33 AM

Jeremy AlfordCapitol Correspondent

BATON ROUGE — Houma-Thibodaux-area residents whose property sustained hurricane damage in recent years may be eligible to receive as much as $7,500 in state money to make small-scale improvements to protect against future losses.The cash could be used for a variety of updates ranging from installing roof-tie downs to elevating electrical panels.Here’s how it works: If you’re among the nearly 3,500 local applicants of the state’s Road Home program that selected what’s known as “Option 1” — the offered alternative to rebuild or repair your homes — then you’re eligible and must opt-in to the new initiative by March 10.According to the most recent data available, 768 households in Lafourche Parish and another 2,416 in Terrebonne have chosen to remain in their storm-battered homes since the Road Home program was launched following the 2005 landfall of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In Lafourche, six households have chosen Option 2, which involves selling their property but staying in Louisiana. Only one homeowner has selected Option 3 to sell and move outside the state.In Terrebonne, 43 cases of selling and staying have been recorded, while Option 3 has similarly drawn the interest of only one homeowner. Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, said the state has already invested more than $846 million in helping residents raise their homes. The latest grants, known as Individual Mitigation Measures or IMM grants, will further make homes safer and stronger.“In the aftermath of the great damage caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, preventing future home damage and loss is one of Louisiana’s top priorities, which is why we are offering grants to help homeowners pay to install common sense protection like storm shutters,” Rainwater said.The state began mailing forms last week to more than 100,000 Road Home applicants statewide who selected Option 1 to rebuild or repair their homes. Homeowners can also use the form to choose to participate in the Office of Community Development’s HMGP Elevation Program, which offers eligible homeowners up to $100,000 to raise their homes.Interested homeowners should not install or start work on their improvements until speaking with a mitigation analyst and their home has been cleared by the program, officials said.Mitigation analysts can be reached at 1-877-824-8312 or hazardmitigation@la.gov. Information is also available online at http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/cdbg/dr/hmgp/hmgp.htm.

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